Logo from the 1995 season, the first in Jaguars history,
Beginning in 1989, the plan to get a professional football team in Jacksonville was already underway. This mission was spearheaded by Florida governor Jeb Bush, Jacksonville developer Tom Petway, and owner of Nine West shoes, Wayne Weaver. These three would eventually become icons in Jacksonville, and it all started in 1991, when the NFL announced it would be adding two new teams to the league. In an Underdog story,Jacksonville secured it's team and in 1995 the inaugural season of the new Jacksonville Jaguars kicked off. Head coach Tom Coughlin became a celebrity, and the team found a lot of success in its early years, boasting two AFC Championships including a 1996 Divisional round upset victory. After the year 1999, however, the Jaguars went on a bit of a dry spell. It wasn't until players such as Maurice Jones-Drew, Marcedes Lewis, and DavidGarrard came along that they even returned to the playoffs. In 2007, they lost to the 16-0 New England Patriots in the Divisional round and would go another 10 years without making the playoffs. Players were discouraged, fans were getting angry, and the city was in a slump. It seemed as though nothing could break the curse. However, The Jaguars had one glimmer of hope.
Head coach Tom Coughlin, who would later become the Vice President of Football Operations
In the Summer of 2017, after winning two Super Bowl rings with the New York Giants, Tom Coughlin would return to the team he built as the Executive Vice President of Football Operations. This is the momentum Jacksonville needed. The following season, The Jaguars won 10 games, beating NFL heavy weights such as the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and would go on to the the AFC Championship game, holding on to the lead and scaring Patriots fans until the final 3 minutes and 27 seconds. While the loss was heartbreaking, The Jaguars have a lot to be proud of and will be back next year. The culture has shifted in Jacksonville, and everyone is ready to see their team lift the Lombardi trophy
Blake Bortles (Left) and Tom Brady (Right) in a matchup dubbed "Bortles vs Goliath"
Final Score of the AFC Championship Game, which ended in a late comeback by the New England Patriots
History of the Franchise
Beginning in 1989, the plan to get a professional football team in Jacksonville was already underway. This mission was spearheaded by Florida governor Jeb Bush, Jacksonville developer Tom Petway, and owner of Nine West shoes, Wayne Weaver. These three would eventually become icons in Jacksonville, and it all started in 1991, when the NFL announced it would be adding two new teams to the league. In an Underdog story,Jacksonville secured it's team and in 1995 the inaugural season of the new Jacksonville Jaguars kicked off. Head coach Tom Coughlin became a celebrity, and the team found a lot of success in its early years, boasting two AFC Championships including a 1996 Divisional round upset victory. After the year 1999, however, the Jaguars went on a bit of a dry spell. It wasn't until players such as Maurice Jones-Drew, Marcedes Lewis, and DavidGarrard came along that they even returned to the playoffs. In 2007, they lost to the 16-0 New England Patriots in the Divisional round and would go another 10 years without making the playoffs. Players were discouraged, fans were getting angry, and the city was in a slump. It seemed as though nothing could break the curse. However, The Jaguars had one glimmer of hope.
In the Summer of 2017, after winning two Super Bowl rings with the New York Giants, Tom Coughlin would return to the team he built as the Executive Vice President of Football Operations. This is the momentum Jacksonville needed. The following season, The Jaguars won 10 games, beating NFL heavy weights such as the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and would go on to the the AFC Championship game, holding on to the lead and scaring Patriots fans until the final 3 minutes and 27 seconds. While the loss was heartbreaking, The Jaguars have a lot to be proud of and will be back next year. The culture has shifted in Jacksonville, and everyone is ready to see their team lift the Lombardi trophy